Australia vs England 1st Test Day 3: Joe Root and Dawid Malan dug in to give England some badly needed cheer on the third day of the opening Ashes Test against Australia at the Gabba on Friday. The duo added an unbeaten 159-run partnership for the third wicket to take England to 220 for two at stumps on the third day. England, who had been skittled out for 147 in the first innings, now trail Australia by only 58 runs with eight wickets still remaining. Captain Root is unbeaten on 86 with Malan giving solid company on 80 not out. England had lost both openers in the second session -- Rory Burns failed to add to his lunch score of 13 and Haseeb Hameed was unluckily caught down the leg side for 27. But Root and Malan looked increasingly comfortable on the third day Gabba pitch as they took England to tea only two wickets down. Earlier, Travis Head scored a superb 152 to put Australia in a commanding position after their first innings. Australia were finally dismissed for 425 on Friday, 30 minutes before lunch, a handsome lead of 278. England then survived a tricky period and went to lunch 23 for no wicket.
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Aus vs Eng 1st Test Day 3 Live
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We're back. The players are also back on the field. 20 runs to get for Australia for the series lead. Alex Carey and Marcus Harris will open and they would love to have a 10-wicket victory. Can they do it? Ollie Robinson to bowl the first over.
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...FINAL INNINGS...
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77 runs and 8 wickets in the morning session and England have ended up spoiling all the good work done on Day 3. It's a surrender from their batsmen and Australia should be commended for showing character. All their genuine bowlers contributed with Nathan Lyon finishing with four wickets. Do join us in a short while after the Lunch break for the final rites.
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Nathan Lyon is leading Australia off the park! He completed his 400 Test wickets this morning and his breakthrough provided Australia with an early opening. The morning session has entirely belonged to the hosts. After some amazing work from the pair of Joe Root and Dawid Malan on Day 3, the Aussie bowlers bounced back and put a spirited performance. Nathan Lyon struck early to remove Malan and soon Joe Root and Ollie Pope also fell. Jos Buttler and Ben Stokes spent some time in the middle to build a partnership but then they also punched in the return ticket to the pavilion. The English tail didn't wag once again and they are now on the brink of losing this Test match.
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102.6WCameron Green to Chris Woakes
OUT! CAUGHT BEHIND! Superb delivery, Green follows the batsman with a well-directed short ball at 138.3 kph, Woakes leans back and attempts to play the upper-cut but only manages to edge it to Alex Carey. He claims his 8th catch of this Test match. What a debut for him! He equals Brian Taber and Chris Read who also had eight wicket-keeping dismissals on Test debut. England are bundled out for 297 with a lead of only 19 runs.
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102.50Cameron Green to Chris Woakes
Fuller and on off, slanting in, Woakes defends it from the back foot to the off side.
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102.40Cameron Green to Chris Woakes
Around middle and leg, on a length, Woakes keeps it out to mid-wicket.
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102.30Cameron Green to Chris Woakes
On a length around off, Chris pushes it with soft hands to cover-point.
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102.20Cameron Green to Chris Woakes
Back of a length around off, Woakes pushes it from the back foot to the off side.
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102.10Cameron Green to Chris Woakes
Gets behind the line of the delivery and taps it down to square leg.
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102.11 wdCameron Green to Chris Woakes
Wide! A gentle bouncer and it has gone way over the head of the batsman. Called a wide for height.
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Cameron Green (11-3-22-1) comes back to bowl.
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101.60Nathan Lyon to Jack Leach
Beaten! Drift again for Lyne, he lands it just outside off and gets it to skid in, a late decision by Leach to cut but he misses.
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101.50Nathan Lyon to Jack Leach
Spinning away from around off, Leach lets it through to the keeper.
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Jack Leach is the last man in. This session will be extended now with England nine down.
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101.4WNathan Lyon to Mark Wood
OUT! TIMBER! A classic off spinner to dismiss Mark Wood. A generously tossed up delivery around off, plenty of drift on this one as it lands full and around off, Wood is lured into the drive but it beats the outside half of his bat and goes on to tickle the off pole. Lyon has a 4-fer now and England one wicket away from getting bundled out. They are ahead by just 18 runs.
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101.30Nathan Lyon to Mark Wood
Flighted and on off, defended from the crease by Wood.
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101.21Nathan Lyon to Chris Woakes
Loopy and around off, turning back in, Woakes tries to defend off the front foot but it takes the inside edge and rolls wide of short leg. They cross.
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101.10Nathan Lyon to Chris Woakes
Full and floated, around off and spinning in, Woakes defends it with his bat in front of his front pad.
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100.60Mitchell Starc to Mark Wood
Yet another bouncer, slightly wayward this time as it's angling down the leg side, Wood has a comfortable leave on this occasion.